Karl Darlow can be a Nottingham Forest great, says Cohen

KARL Darlow can step out of Lee Camp's shadow and become Nottingham Forest's first-choice keeper for years to come.

That was the message today from Chris Cohen, who says Darlow has possessed the quality to play in the Championship for two or three years.

The midfielder says the youngster has only had his progress stymied by finding himself down the pecking order behind one of the best keeper's outside of the top flight.

Darlow, 22, has impressed in his first two league starts for the Reds, helping Alex McLeish to secure his first win against Peterborough, before surviving the intense atmosphere of the East Midlands derby with a point from Pride Park on Saturday.

McLeish had hoped to bring in an experienced keeper as a replacement for Camp, after telling the former Derby and QPR player that he has no future at the City Ground.

But he saw enough of Darlow to believe he deserves a chance to shine – and Cohen has even more confidence in his team-mate, insisting: "Karl can be the Campy of the future for us.

"If you had seen him in training for the last six months, you would see his quality.

"Certainly every new player who has come in this season has been asking who this lad is, when they have come up against him in training.

"We have known about his quality even before he has been playing. He has just been unlucky that he had Campy in front of him. I am sure he can shine now and prove that he can be a Campy of the future.

"He has been fantastic in training for two or three years.

"Unfortunately, he has had one of the best keepers in the Championship in front of him.

"Campy was never the sort to miss a game, to get injured or sent off. So Karl never had an opportunity."

Cohen says Forest players are confident in Darlow's ability to step into the void left by Camp's impending departure.

"Everything he does looks calm. If you did not know what the circumstances were or who he was, you would think he had played hundreds of games," said Cohen.

"He looks very assured, his kicking is great. He has all the attributes to be a top keeper, I think.

"He is like Campy – and that is a compliment – because he comes for crosses, he is commanding, he is a good shot stopper. I hope he can continue the way he has played so far.

"For me, if they do bring in a keeper, fair enough. But they have somebody in Karl who can be a number one for some time.

"It is a learning curve for him. He will make mistakes and he will do things he shouldn't. He has to learn about playing in front of a big crowd.

"But he has had a good mentor in Camp. You see the same strength of character in Karl. He also has that same slight arrogance about him, which keepers need.

"Hopefully he can be here for a long time and be Forest's number one for a long time."

Darlow's mentor at Forest on why the youngster can shine – Pages 34-35

26 comments

You cant judge a player on half a season. Cox is always capable of scoring and has the potential to add substantially to his total. In addition he always works hard, assists with goals and is an excellent team player. Even when he isn't scoring he is giving the opposition's defence a headache as they know what he is capable of and can't give him an inch of space. He has the ability to score plenty at this level and so yes I do think he is good value for money.YOU REDS!

Troll72.. not caring what others say is usually a sign of a closed mind that is unable to accept anything but ones own narrow and blinkered view. This infelxibility of the mind is often acredited to a very low level of intelligence and in many cases a sign of low self esteem. We understand that your jealousy of the famous team and i's vibrant, passionate supporters drives you to mix with those you feel inferior to on here in an attempt to try and improve your social standing, level of education and knowledge of football. There are very few signs of your strategy working as yet but keep trying cupcake now jog along and watch you don't get your alphabetti spaghetti all down your direby shirt. YOU REDS!

forset mad i dont give a monkeys what anyone says about me sorry if i upset you ! Angus kids for a quid at forest your worse than us ! there are no cheap tickets at derby it was 30-34 pound saturday ! forest have call there ticket office poundland know a days for the price of a mars bar you can take you kid to city ground !

Well I know more than you Paul. Firstly I know not to believe what I read in newspapers or on websites. For you information straight from the accounts (please try reading them before you post "facts") :-
Creditors due within 12 months = £31,072,000
Crediors due over 12 months = £17,542,000
I mke that £48.6 million pounds worth of debt.
I still cannot find the posting where I said forest would not make a loss. Please point it out to me if you would be so kind. And, also, please stop trying to insult me you are just showing yourself up. Any more insulting comments and I wil start pointing ot how uneducatd you are with regard to grammar, puntuation and spelling.

The only time direby have had a full house or anywhere near it this season is last Saturday when the Reds helped you to fill your atmosphere forsaken bland bowl. Your crowd are free loaders but not quiet as bad as fester who could only attract 8585 for a game that put them in to the auto promo places! You Reds!

Check your accounts, it's just over £34 million PLUS the £15 million mortgage on your ground. As I say, I would worry about your tinpot club rather than come onto a Forest forum talking rubbish. Where did I say anywhere in my post that we wouldn't make a loss? Unfortunately, both our owners, unlike ND, WILL want their money back.